Blog post 2- Intercultural communication conflict
I will discuss the general differences in communication patterns between Singaporeans and Indians. I will be using personal anecdotes to illustrate my arguments.
I visited India for a medical check up last year and had the chance to interact with Indian doctors and nurses. I have several observations about differences in communication styles between Indians and Singaporeans.
Firstly, I felt that men and women were not treated equally in India. I am used to greeting people of higher authority, or social status with a handshake. When I extended my arms for the first time in India, the male doctor was not very comfortable with this practice and he looked away. He returned my handshake with a flimsy handshake. I felt very awkward at that time. I should have stuck to folding my arms, a more common practice in India. I was chided for traveling alone.
Second, I feel that the people there are more expressive and emotional. I am used to communicating without expressive words or by stating my emotions. Indians also tended to experience emotions to a larger degree.
Having been raised in Singapore, some of these communication differences in communication came across to me as cultural differences. In general I feel the corporate culture is stronger here and that it calls for a more neutral statements. However, I feel family ties are strongly emphasized in India and the emotional attachment often surfaces in conversations.
I have spoken to several of my family members in India about this and many of them tend to have similar opinions. I was advised to dress more traditionally, be more expressive, and to work at slower pace.
Perhaps changing expectations about Indians can help to correct these misunderstandings. I can try to change my expectations and dress appropriately depending on the country’s culture. I can also try to fit in by learning more of the local culture without assuming that cultural practices are standard everywhere.
How else do you think I should have better prepared for my trip to India?
Hi meena! This post is especially interesting to me because you mentioned the cultural differences in a healthcare setting, which is related to my major, and I have always been keen to understand more about Indian culture as I have not been to India.
ReplyDeleteI think that consulting relatives who have that thorough understanding of the culture, which you did, is the best method to be aware of and bridge those cultural differences. Perhaps indulging in some forms of mass media or entertainment could also help you better appreciate the expectations held by the general Indian population in terms of daily interactions based on gender and status.
The point you brought up that Singaporeans are not as expressive has resonated strongly with me too! I have always been "accused" of showing a lack of concern through facial expressions and reactions, thus agree that although it is part of the upbringing or local culture, relationships can be made better with a little more effort on my part to smile more (since smiles are a global language)!
:)
Hi Sheryl,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment! I am glad you understood my points! Thats exactly what I meant! :)
smiles are global and they go a long way! Yes I agree that watching more Indian movies could have helped. Perhaps I could have paid more attention to the cultural cues instead of being engrossed with the plot! haha
:)